Usually, industry groups and companies promote their products together. However, last month, some of Europe’s biggest energy companies joined to launch a campaign promoting a product they didn’t sell. Green hydrogen is seen as a vital part of the energy system’s decarbonization efforts. Due to the increasing interest in green hydrogen, major oil and gas companies plan to incorporate it into their operations.
What Is It?
In terms of color, hydrogen is often referred to as colorless gas. According to a market research firm, most of the industrial gas used to make various chemicals is brown. This refers to the gas that’s produced through the conversion of coal or coal-based materials. Although blue hydrogen can potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it’s still not an emissions-free alternative. This gas is produced through the steam methane reforming process. Unlike blue hydrogen, green hydrogen can be produced using renewable energy sources. This alternative fuel can be used to power the water electrolysis process.
How Is It Made?
To produce large quantities of hydrogen, electrolysis requires a large electrolyzer and a lot of electricity. Since green hydrogen can come from renewable sources, such as hydro, wind, and solar power, its emissions are minimal. Unfortunately, the lack of large electrolyzers and the high cost of renewable electricity are currently hindering the development of green hydrogen. Electrolyzers are expensive compared to other production methods, which explains why they’re not widely used.
Storage and Usage
Aside from being used in district heating plants, green hydrogen can also be used to make various energy carriers. These include synthetic hydrocarbons and ammonia. In the US, green hydrogen can replace the approximately 10 million metric tons of industrial gas that’s produced annually from natural gas. Unfortunately, since it’s highly flammable, it can be challenging to store and transport. The bulk transportation of green hydrogen would require the construction of pipelines, which are typically costly. Doing so would further decrease the efficiency of green hydrogen.
Recent Developments
One of the most common ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is by electrifying the energy system. However, this method would require huge investments and be very expensive compared to renewable power. One of the most promising low-carbon fuels is green hydrogen. Due to the wide range of sectors that can benefit from the use of green hydrogen, many companies are already planning on incorporating it into their activities. Some of these include oil and gas companies that are facing increasing pressure to cut down on fossil fuel production.